Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Chapter 145

Richard

pov.

The parenting workshop was held in a cozy community center, the kind of place that smelled faintly of crayons and coffee.

The walls were plastered with cheerful posters about child safety and breastfeeding tips, which I pretended to read while we waited for the session to begin.

My hands fidgeted with the pamphlet they'd handed us at the door. It had a smiling cartoon baby on the cover and the words Parenting: You've Got This! in bold, bubbly letters. Somehow, I wasn't convinced. Sarah sat beside me, flipping through the same pamphlet, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Did you know that swaddling can reduce colic?" she asked, nudging me with her elbow.

"Nope," I said, glancing sideways at her. "But I guess we're about to become swaddling experts, huh?"

She laughed, a sound I hadn't heard enough of in the last few days. Ever since Marina had left, Sarah had been quieter, more introspective.

I could tell she was still processing everything, but we'd both been too drained to talk about it much.

The workshop leader, a woman named Jill, introduced herself at the front of the room. She was lively and energetic, wearing a bright yellow sweater that made her seem like the human embodiment of sunshine. "Welcome, everyone!" she chirped. "Today, we're going to focus on practical skills for new parents-things like diapering, soothing techniques, and building emotional resilience as a team."

I glanced around the room. Most of the couples looked just as nervous as I felt, their wide eyes darting between Jill and the tables of baby dolls set up for practice. Sarah, on the other hand, looked calm. Determined, even. The first exercise was diaper changing. Easy enough in theory, but I quickly realized that baby dolls were slipperier than they looked.

My hands fumbled with the tiny diaper tabs, and I muttered under my breath as I tried to secure them.

"Need some help?" Sarah asked, her tone light but teasing.

"I've got it," I muttered, though my doll's diaper was lopsided at best.

Sarah's hands were steady as she adjusted the doll's legs and expertly fastened the diaper in place. "See? Not so bad once you get the hang of it."

glaring at my crooked attempt. "Piece of

her confidence infectious. "You'll get there. This is

involved holding and soothing the baby. Jill demonstrated different techniques: the football hold, the shushing method, the

swaying gently as Jill had shown

my own doll seemed to mock me, its plastic head wobbling dangerously

Sarah whispered, her

that what she called it? The

she said,

touch was warm, and reassuring. I relaxed a little, letting her guide me.

pride in her voice made me feel like I'd

the emotional side of parenting. "Becoming a parent is

feel scared, overwhelmed, or even unsure if you're ready. The important thing is to communicate with each other and remember that

stomach. Unsure if I'm ready? That hit

asked us to write down one fear we had about becoming a parent and share it

across the page. I stared at

That I'd mess this

scribbled something vague: Not

swapped papers, Sarah's response took me by surprise. She'd written: Not

throat tight. "You? Not patient

shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "I have my moments. But this is all new to me too, you know? I don't

off guard. I'd spent so much time worrying about my own insecurities, that I hadn't stopped to think that maybe she

exhausted-not just from the activities but from the weight

the car, Sarah looped her arm through

there," she said, glancing up at

"Great? Did you see

she admitted, laughing. "But you were trying.